Noun: neoteny nee'ó-t(u-)nee
- An evolutionary trend to be born earlier so that development is cut off at an earlier stage and juvenile characteristics are retained in adults of the species
"Neoteny in humans may explain our retention of childlike curiosity throughout life"
- The state resulting when juvenile characteristics are retained by the adults of a species
"The axolotl's neoteny allows it to retain its gills throughout its life"
- Reproduction by young or larval animals before reaching the adult stage
"neoteny is observed in some species of midges";
- paedogenesis, pedogenesis [US]
Derived forms: neotenies
Type of: evolutionary trend, state
Encyclopedia: Neoteny